The Bigger Picture: The City in the Global Village

Israel's existence
founded on Palestine's Non-Existence

We are very aware these days of
the danger we face from Islamic fundamentalism. We know we are
under constant threat of terrorist attack from Islamic fundamentalists.
But what about Jewish fundamentalism? Are there any Jewish fundamentalists
plotting terrorist attacks on British soil? I don't believe so.
Yet Jewish fundamentalism is a threat to us.

Israel presents itself to the Western
democracies as itself a model Western-style democracy; as an
island of democracy in a sea of Arab dictatorships. The United
States, which in turn presents itself to the world as the champion
of democracy and the policeman of 'freedom-loving peoples' to quote
George Bush, leads the way in accepting Israel's view of itself.

Meanwhile, Britain, which under
Tony Blair's premiership, has tied itself uncritically to US
foreign policy, finds itself in the same position of apologist
for Israel. Tony Blair's refusal to call for an immediate
ceasefire in the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah, his again
identifying Britain with the US, is further confirmation, if we
needed it.

Blair, of course, seems to think
that he is able to influence US foreign policy for the good by
sticking close to Bush; that he is the tail that can wag the US
dog. But that is a piece of self-deception. Rather he has been
a patsy for Bush.

In its editorial of 9th September
2006 the Israeli newspaper Haaretz puts it plainly: "The
person most damaged so far by George Bush's policy of waging war
on the axis of evil is Tony Blair, his unwavering partner. Now,
the British leader is about to pay with his job for the war in
Iraq and support of Israel."

The government of Israel today
is, and for some time past now has been, dominated by Jewish
fundamentalism and Zionist ultra-nationlism. Britain must be
scrupulously even handed in its policy towards Israel-Palestine
and that means taking a critical stance on the so-called Western
democracy of the Jewish state. Britain must not be an apologist
for Israeli aggression and expansionism. Every time it acts as
apologist for Israel it condemns itself in the eyes of the Arab
and Muslim worlds - which are populated by people who are only
too aware of the death and destruction that Israel exacts on the
Palestinians on a daily basis.

We hear unceasingly in Israel's
defence that it is fighting for its very existence - without any
recognition that Israel has been denying existence to Palestine
and Palestinians for many decades.

To recognise one claim while denying
or, which amounts to the same thing, of remaining silent and passive
about the other is to damage the very concept of Western democracy
and to give pretext to Islamic fundamentalism.